Biogeographical Terms

noun a collection of all the fossils ever discovered on Earth, providing information about the history of life on the planet

• The fossil record provides valuable evidence of past life forms on Earth.
• Scientists use the fossil record to learn about ancient animals and plants.
• Dude, the fossil record is like a history book written in rocks!
• The fossil record is like a time capsule, preserving the secrets of ancient life.

noun the process by which a single species evolves into many different species to fill available niches

• Adaptive radiation is a process in which organisms diversify rapidly into a multitude of new forms to take advantage of different ecological niches.
• During adaptive radiation, species quickly evolve into various forms to adapt to different environments.
• When adaptive radiation occurs, species go crazy evolving to fit into different habitats.
• Adaptive radiation is like a burst of creativity in the natural world, with species rapidly branching out into new directions.